California Bucket List: Top 41 Things To Do!

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one and make a purchase, I might make a little extra spending money, at no extra cost to you. As always, all opinions are my own and these products/services have been found useful during our travels and come highly recommended to you from yours truly!

This is one of those moments where I am slightly homesick for my home state of California and I start reminiscing about all the amazing things to do, see and eat when in the Golden State!

From an endless amount of pristine beaches to a variety of theme parks, vineyards all up and down the state, to snow-capped mountains, California offers a never-ending amount of things to do and see, for both locals and visitors. Many of these destinations can be visited with a road trip along the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH)!

Here I will compile some of the most popular, well-known and beloved sights to see to the overlooked, less-touristy places one can visit throughout the state!

In case you’re interested, PIN IT FOR LATER!!

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

1. GRAB A DRINK IN SAN DIEGO’S GASLAMP QUARTER

Known as the National Historic District, the Gaslamp Quarter has become the heart of San Diego as the place to shop, dine and dance while admiring the historic buildings dating back to the 1880s.

2. VISIT THE HISTORIC HOTEL DEL CORONADO

The Hotel del Coronadowas opened in 1888 in classic Victorian grandeur along San Diego’s Pacific shore. Films like Some Like It Hot were produced here and the hotel hosts a list of Top A-Listers who have stayed at the hotel.

3. CHECK OUT THE OLD POINT LOMA LIGHTHOUSE

Opened in 1855, the lighthousewas only used for 36 years. Today, visitors can view the lighthouse keeper’s living quarters just as they were in the 1890s.

16. TAKE A DRIVE DOWN SUNSET BOULEVARD

Winding its way for 26 miles from downtown LA to the Pacific Coast Highway, this drive was made famous by classic movies. Today, Sunset Boulevardis lined with homes of the rich and famous, luxury hotels, restaurants and nightclubs.

Picture from Google

17. HIKE UP TO THE HOLLYWOOD SIGN

How could anyone pass up the opportunity to hike up to the famed Hollywood Hills without checking out the Hollywood sign!?

18. WALK DOWN THE HOLLYWOOD WALK OF FAME

Hollywood Boulevard is still renowned around the world as a street filled with glamour from the Golden Age. Today, the glamor might be gone, but there is still plenty to see such as the Walk of Fame, Mann’s Chinese Theater, El Captain Theater and more!

19. PLAY AT THE SANTA MONICA PIER

With some of the best weather in California, friendly shops and a largely pedestrian-only area, it makes for one of the best places to take a stroll or even take a ride on the small amusement park located on the pier.

20. STAY THE NIGHT ON THE RMS QUEEN MARY

This beautiful luxury liner sailed its maiden voyage from Southampton, England to New York City in 1936. Sailing weekly to and fro, it played many roles. From luxury liner, to troopship during WWII, to finally a permanently docked hotel in Long Beach. The ship is also known as one of the top 10 most haunted locations in America.

24. VISIT THE SCANDINAVIAN SETTLEMENT TOWN OF SOLVANG

A group of Dutch educators established this Scandinavian colonyin 1911 and today tourists can tour the city in a horse-drawn streetcar, see the windmills, eat a beer garden and feel like they are back in Europe!

25. STROLL THE STREETS OF SANTA BARBARA

Santa Barbarais a unique city as it was completely built in a Mediterranean style architecture which also includes the Santa Barbara Mission.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

28. HIKE UP HALF DOME IN YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK

Standing almost 1 mile above the valley floor, Half Dome has become the symbol of Yosemite National Park. If you’re brave and experienced enough, you can climb/hike the gargantuan mountain. And yes, a visit to Yosemite National Park in the rain is even impressive, should that ever actually occur!

29. RIDE THE DELTA RIVERBOAT ACROSS LAKE TAHOE

By far one of the most beautiful bodies of water in California, what better way to explore it than by taking a ride on a paddle wheeler!

30. EXPLORE THE WINCHESTER MYSTERY HOUSE

In 18884, the heiress of the Winchester Rifle, Sarah Winchester bought a small farm house in San Jose. Under the impression that the continual expansion of the house would exorcise the spirits of those who had been killed by the Winchester rifle. For 38 years, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, the house was continuously expanded until her death in 1922.

31. TAKE A RIDE ON A SAN FRANCISCO CABLE CAR

Cable carsfirst appeared in 1873 in the hope of transporting people up and down the steep, rolling hills of San Francisco. by 1906, there were over 600 cars in use. Today, there are only thee original cable cars in use.

35. ADMIRE THE CALIFORNIA STATE CAPITOL BUILDING IN SACRAMENTO

Built in 1860, the Capital Building is one of the most impressive buildings in the state with a Renaissance Revival style and a tall central dome. From here, the governor of the state operates his daily business. No, Arnold Schwarzenegger is no longer the governor of California.

39. CAMP IN THE MCARTHUR-BURNEY FALLS MEMORIAL PARK

40. VISIT THE GLASS BEACH IN FORT BRAGG

Have you ever experienced a beach with sand with any other color than white or black sand? Well, you’ll be in for a treat when you head to Fort Bragg and check out the colorful rocks and stones which were created by pollution. Who knew pollution could be so beautiful? It’s one of the most unique places to visit along a Pacific Coast Highway road trip!

41. VISIT ONE OF CALIFORNIA’S MANY MISSIONS

There are 21 missions that can be found along the California Historic Mission Trail, near or along Highway 101. All of the missions are named after the Spanish monarchy which had financed expeditions to California for the empire’s expansion. My favorite: Mission San Luis Reyin San Diego!

Heading to California soon and want to take all the best places with you? Then I highly recommend using the DK Eyewitness Travel Guide for California! Without these guides, I would be lost! These are my travel Bibles!

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one and make a purchase, I might make a little extra spending money, at no extra cost to you. As always, all opinions are my own and these products/services have been found useful during our travels and come highly recommended to you from yours truly!

Related

Replies to California Bucket List: Top 41 Things To Do!

This list is brilliant! I’ve managed half of the items, mostly the Southern California ones, and look forward to checking out the rest! We enjoyed visiting Castello di Amorosa, it’s a lovely place and can’t wait to go back to Napa Valley. And I never leave California without a visit to In-n-Out! And I miss those Julian apple pies. #CityTripping

oh in N out, how i miss thee!! I spent some time in San Diego a few years back so i did most of the touristy things there. I loved La Jolla and of course the gaslamp was a fun time. Joshua Tree, Napa Valley, Yosemite, and a Big Sur road trip are all high on my Cali radar! great post! 🙂

Wow! It would take a long time to do all of these things but I’m seriously tempted by so many that I haven’t discovered yet – thank you so much for these wonderful recommendations. I’ve visited San Franciso, LA, driven the coastal route between the two but there’s so much more to discover…#citytripping

A very exhaustive list…especially as I’ve barely set foot in California (LAX airport doesn’t really count!) I want to do all of these so much. This list is very handy for when we finally get to California. Thanks for sharing on #citytripping xx

I went to see the hollywood sign and I was super disappointed but like you say, if you go to Hollywood oh well you have to do it ! I would definitively check out Joshua Tree NP next time I’m around 🙂 Thanks for all these tips !

About Me

Sign Up!

Hi there! Guten Tag! My name is Lorelei, aka Lady Lolo, I’m an American expat living in Germany with a serious addiction to adorable half-timbered houses, fairy tale towns and castles. I may have an unwritten rule with my husband that at least once a month, we have to explore somewhere new to satisfy my restless feet syndrome!

Search my site

Love CG Posts?

Popular Posts

California Globetrotter is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com